Bathing a Bunny

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 4 months ago by Eucalyptus.

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- 11/05/2012 at 5:52 PM
  Eucalyptus
  Participant
  251 posts
  Once again, another question from me! >.< I was wondering what type of shampoo you would use if you had to bathe a bunny?
  
  Also, what ingredients are dangerous? My dad manages a product company called Doc Ackerman’s Pet Products, and they make different things for dogs and cats, and I believe, horses.
  
  I know that a lot of times, what’s good for a dog is not good for a cat, and vice versa, and it’s probably even worse with bunnies because they’re fragile.
  
  I asked my dad what he would think of their dog/cat shampoo on a bunny and he said it was fine, but my dad tends to say stuff like that until he’s proven wrong soooooo, I just wanted to know. I would never use this until I found out from someone.
  
  I could always list the ingredients actually.
  
  Regular Shampoo:
  
  Purified Deionized Soft Water, Green Tea Extract, Cleavers, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Garlic, Poke Root, Echinacea, Oatstraw, Wild Indigo, Yellow Dock, Marigold, Comfrey, Avocadamide MEA, Elder Flower, St John’s Wort, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera, Fresh Extract of Orange, Tangerine, and Mango.
  
  Anyways, if this was actually safe, it would be awesome. If not, then, I could use a recommendation on a bunny safe product please!
- 11/05/2012 at 6:05 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  There are some occasions where a bath would be necessary. ie. to remove harmful substances they might have got into. Or wash off poo and urine from the bottom if unwell. But bathing them is not a regular maintenance thing we need do with rabbits, thank goodness!
  
  If you had to give them a bath, I’d opt for a gentle oatmeal shampoo suitable for puppies/dogs. The one you’ve listed looks ok… i recognise some of the plants and theyre safe for eating when in plant form but I have no idea if safe as an extract. I’d also be concerned about the fragrance if strong, particularly the citrus elements.
- 11/05/2012 at 7:06 PM
  Eucalyptus
  Participant
  251 posts
  Good to know! Thank you. It wasn’t going to be a daily thing or anything, just if the bunny got itself dirty with poo or the litter box, or possibly when we go outside.
  
  The shampoo does have an orange cream scent, but nothing strong. It’s just enough to smell good, but not overwhelming at all. Hopefully someone else can pitch in their opinion, though, so we can know for sure.
- 11/06/2012 at 3:53 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Just echoing Jersey: Do not bathe unless absolutely necessary. Baths are terribly stressful for a rabbit and being wet puts them at risk for pneumonia.
  
  However, it’s sometimes necessary to clean their bottom and this is a helpful link. It also discusses bunny-safe soap:
  
  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html
- 11/06/2012 at 4:14 AM
  sleepy538
  Participant
  246 posts
  near the end of cosie’s life she became incontinent and as you can imagine she was quite messy. the vet told me i could give her butt baths with baby shampoo and to use baby wipes if at all possible to spare her from the baths.
- 11/06/2012 at 8:00 PM
  Eucalyptus
  Participant
  251 posts
  I wasn’t planning to often or anything, just in case.
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